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  • Indonesian fashion label Claude launches in Singapore

    Indonesian fashion label Claude launches in Singapore

    The store people have been impatiently waiting has finally arrived. The go-to IT fashion brand, Claude, has officially opened its first brick-and-mortar store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore on July 29th, 2022.

    As it always go with Claude, they celebrated the grand opening of their 1600sqft store with flair and much grandiose. Hosted by Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw and accompanied by plenty of familiar faces and icons in the fashion and lifestyle industry from Andrea Chong, Melissa C. Koh, Nellie Lim, and Savina Chow. The famous Singapore socialite, Jamie Chua, also attended wearing Claude special Singapore collection, The Wildflower.

    “We have been receiving a lot of love from Singapore over the years,” said Christie Johana as the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Claude. “It is definitely the right step for us to finally open our first international store in our amazing and beautiful neighbour, Singapore.”

    Curved outlines, flora installation, and a splash of lilac and mint green definitely screams Claude. The Indonesian label known for its elegant dresses, pleated pieces, and its modern Gen-Z sub-brand Everyday definitely stole the show with its beautiful store. “The goal is to create an experience for everyone while touring the store and feel comfortable, relax and unwind in the massive lounge room, and taking pictures on many of the spots.”, the Creative Director said.

    This community focused brand also arranged its first ever international Claude Squad event at SPRMRKT, Dempsey Hill, just a day before the grand opening event. “One of our most important mission is to connect people who have passion for fashion, and we love to do it by hosting a gathering with our beloved Claude Squad!”, stated Christie.

    Some of people’s favourite fashion stars and fanatics were also seen during the gathering, from Iman Fandi, Hailey Teo, and so much more. To add the excitement, consumers can see all of them rocking Claude’s Singapore special collection that will be available in store, while posing in front of their beautiful garden backdrop and iconic #ClaudeSquad signage.

    With the opening of the store, The Wildflower collection is exclusively available offline before their official launch on Claude’s website on August 1st, 2022 and August 8th, 2022. Pieces vary from original prints, pleated items, and their novel knitted pieces.

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  • Cebu Pacific to resume flights to Bali, Hanoi, Sydney

    Cebu Pacific to resume flights to Bali, Hanoi, Sydney

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific recently announced that it is resuming to key international destinations in a bid to boost its frequencies in overseas routes.

    As more countries ease travel restrictions, the airline said it is resuming flights to Bali, Indonesia; Hanoi, Vietnam and Sydney, Australia to bring the number of its international destinations to 16 by the end of June.

    The carrier said it plans to operate weekly flights on the Manila-Hanoi-Manila and Manila-Bali-Manila routes next month.

    In June, it intends to operate thrice weekly flights to and from Sydney.

    From January to April, Cebu Pacific restarted flights to six international routes namely Bangkok, Thailand; Fukuoka, Japan; Jakarta, Indonesia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh also in Vietnam.

    It is also currently operating flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore; Seoul (Incheon), Korea; Nagoya and Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Japan and Guangzhou, China.

    Below appears the flight frequencies of the overseas routes:

    Route Frequency
    Manila – Bangkok – Manila Every Tue / Thu / Sat
    Manila – Dubai – Manila Daily
    Manila – Fukuoka – Manila Every Tue
    Manila – Guangzhou – Manila Every Tue
    Manila – Ho Chi Minh Every Tue
    Ho Chi Minh – Manila Every Wed
    Manila – Hong Kong – Manila Daily
    Manila – Jakarta Every Fri
    Jakarta – Manila Every Sat
    Manila – Kuala Lumpur Every Mon
    Kuala Lumpur – Manila Every Tue
    Manila – Nagoya – Manila Every Tue / Thu / Sat / Sun
    Manila – Osaka – Manila Every Mon / Fri
    Manila – Seoul (Incheon) – Manila Every Thu / Sat
    Manila – Singapore – Manila Daily
    Manila – Tokyo (Narita) – Manila Every Mon / Wed / Fri / Sun
    Manila – Bali – Manila Every Mon / Fri (starting May 2)
    Manila – Hanoi – Manila Every Mon / Fri (starting May 2)
    Manila – Sydney Every Mon / Wed / Fri (starting June 1)
    Sydney – Manila Every Tue / Thu / Sat (starting June 2)

    Early this month, the country started accepting fully vaccinated foreign leisure travelers with the most relaxed entry protocols, including quarantine-free entry. The country also allowed visitors to freely travel to reopened destinations around the country.

    Cebu Pacific’s chief commercial officer Xander Lao said the airline supports the Department of Tourism’s initiatives to restore tourism.

    They invited Filipino and foreign tourists to visit the country.

    “We invite Filipinos and foreign visitors to plan their travels to the Philippines and explore its beauty, or simply visit family and friends. We look forward to welcoming everyone onboard,” Lao said in a press conference at the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit in Pasay City last Thursday.

    The carrier is offering flights to 34 domestic destinations which tourists may also visit. It resumed more direct local flights from major hubs Cebu and Davao, as it restored 100% of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity this month.

    “We are happy to keep enabling everyJuan to safely fly across our largest Philippine network. We are hopeful we can continue contributing to the economic and tourism agenda in and out of the Philippines,” Lao said.

    The budget carrier said it would continue to offer low fares to help the COVID-19 pandemic-hit travel and tourism industry recover while maintaining the implementation of health and safety protocols.

    The airline said it employs 100% fully vaccinated crew with 90% of them already boosted.

    Meanwhile, Lao also congratulated the DOT for hosting the 21st edition of the WTTC Global Summit. It was staged at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City from April 20 to 22, 2022.

    WTTC also commended the country for hosting the tourism event that signified the recovery of international travel.

  • The dream villa in Southeast Asia: An architect makes it happen

    The dream villa in Southeast Asia: An architect makes it happen

    Thailand has a very mixed image. While some people are very much looking forward to a stay in Thailand, others rather associate loud music and notorious nightlife with this beautiful country. One of the most famous Thai islands is Phuket. A Luxury Villa Architect in Phuket allows you to live a wonderful life in Phuket. Phuket is a city that offers many opportunities and is known for its evening parties among other things. After the Vietnam War, there were a lot of GIs stationed on this beautiful island. Since the American soldiers were mainly looking for their personal pleasure in Phuket, there are still very many bars and pubs. After the end of the war, the soldiers left. Immediately the island was discovered by backpackers. The island underwent another transformation in the 1980s. The very first luxury hotel was then built in Nai Harn Beach in the south of the island. Thus, the reputation changes overwhelmingly, from an attraction for backpackers came the transformation to a luxury resort. Now Phuket is known for fantastic luxury real estate and since then more and more architects are settling in Phuket, resulting in a real building boom on this magnificent island.

    Buying real estate in Phuket

    If you are considering buying a property in Thailand, you should find a local partner to help you. Real estate and property in Phuket, is quite expensive. This way, the complicated laws and rules can be followed very well and one avoids unnecessary mistakes that have legal consequences. For this reason, the cooperation with an experienced local architect is highly recommended.

    Phuket and the luxury hotels

    The first luxury hotel was followed by very many other luxury resorts spread all over the island. Many upscale accommodations as well as luxury restaurants, spas and leisure facilities of the higher price segment also settled on Phuket. In addition to the classic hotels, Phuket also offers some other types of resorts, such as cottages, apartments, and also ordinary accommodations. Meanwhile, Phuket offers a luxury real estate market. A variety of high-end luxury villas can be found here.

    For Thailand, this was the starting point to start promoting better and more expensive hotels in order to attract the appropriate clientele. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is extremely keen to see the poor image of Thailand finally transform into a proper image. Hotels, for their part, have responded to the increased demand for upscale accommodations with luxurious amenities. This explains the increasing number of upscale hotels to be found in Thailand.

    The possibilities on Phuket are endless

    Besides the fantastic resorts and luxury hotels, Phuket has a lot more to offer, such as the Big Buddha, which is the absolute landmark of Phuket. The Buddha is almost 65 meters high, sits on a hill and looks into the beautiful bay. For tourists, this is a wonderful place to visit, because you can enjoy this view perfectly and it offers an unforgettable view of the great beaches. Here, idyll and the luxurious accommodations are combined and there are almost all kinds of leisure activities to choose from.

    Phuket is located in the southwest of Thailand and it is not far from the mainland. In terms of area, it is the largest island in the country. Phuket becomes a perfect vacation paradise for the very reason that here, for example, every beach is located next to the impressive jungle of the island and the palm trees provide the perfect vacation feeling.

    The flora and fauna of the island are also extremely impressive, because rare animals and species can be admired here, and this applies not only on land, but also in the air. At the same time, the island offers an enormous variety in terms of leisure activities on offer.

    Whether diving, snorkeling, swimming, surfing or kite surfing, in Phuket everyone will find what they are looking for. Therefore, the island enjoys many different visitors with different preferences. In addition, the island offers a whole range of unforgettable excursion destinations.

    The old town of Phuket enchants the visitor

    In addition to the scenic beauty, but also the old town of Phuket convinces. Here, not only the beautiful buildings of the old town enchant, but also the unique and absolutely incomparable character. Both friends of architecture and architects themselves are immediately captivated by beautiful buildings from the colonial era. Nowhere else in Thailand can you find such a unique architecture than in Phuket. The cityscape appears extremely colorful and here every house has a different color. Above all, in the old town of Phuket also just the Chinese and Portuguese occupiers have left their mark. Almost all buildings can be immediately assigned to one architectural style.

    Great feel-good factor in luxurious style

    The feel-good ambience that the noble hotels, especially in Phuket, offer their guests is absolutely unique. In addition, the majority of them are located in such a way that the guest is enchanted by unforgettable views. But there are also private accommodations that pamper the guest with a lot of luxury. Here is really the right thing for everyone, whether you like to travel in the family, just the two of you or even alone. Here you will find excellent luxury accommodations for every need. From hotels, to apartments, to bamboo huts, there is something for everyone here and the guest never has to do without luxury.

    Even today there is a lot of construction going on in Phuket. Whoever wants a Luxury beachfront villa in Phuket will definitely find the right architect to build it. Although the land prices are no longer those that were called in the 90s, but even if you now have to dig much deeper into your pocket, on Phuket you will definitely be able to build your dream home in a fantastic environment. Here you can look forward to a luxurious private villa in the middle of the jungle with a view of the beautiful blue sea.

    The ideal vacation destination

    Phuket is still a place for masses of tourists. But in the meantime, the balance between masses and luxury vacation is perfectly established. The main reason for this is that luxury guests often do not leave their accommodations and feel most comfortable within the hotel grounds.

    While this hurts both the bars and the tourist attractions, at the same time they are less crowded and the small beaches can also be better enjoyed.

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  • AirAsia ready for border reopening, expects 250 international flights weekly by end-April

    AirAsia ready for border reopening, expects 250 international flights weekly by end-April

    AirAsia is expecting an increase of more than 70 international flight volumes per week for the first week of border reopening starting on April 1.

    AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat said the international flight number is expected to reach 250 weekly by the end of April.

    “AirAsia welcomes the announcement by the Malaysian government to fully open international borders on April 1, we are ready.

    “I believe the seamlessness of travel will happen sooner than later,” he told reporters in a media briefing on the airline’s preparation for border reopening here today.

    He said since resuming its operations with travel bubbles and a focus on domestic services, the gradual resumption of international flying is already well underway in tandem with borders gradually reopening around the world.

    With the continued easing of travel restrictions, the airline group has increased its domestic flight capacity by 156 percent since October 2021 kickstarted with the Langkawi travel bubble, and by 50 percent for international flights since the announcement of borders reopening in April is made by the government on March 8, 2022.

    A total of 75 aircraft are operating currently group-wide, he said. This is also supported by the reopening of other countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam, said Riad.

    While the airline currently has a number of international services already operating, the announcement of the nation’s reopening will provide a welcome boost to support additional capacity in many of its core international markets in line with significant pent-up demand.

    Meanwhile, AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd chief executive officer Bo Lingam said the airlines earnings is expected to go back to pre-Covid level presumably by the end of the year with the hope that the fuel price goes down by then.

    “AirAsia applauds the governments around the region for their decision to reopen borders and remove travel restriction with minimal testing requirements.

    “We are thrilled to be resuming more flights in all of our core markets in Malaysia, Thailand, the international destinations including Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket, and more, starting in April.

    Domestic flying also continues to soar across the group with four new domestic routes launched in Malaysia, from Kuching to Langkawi, Penang to Sibu, Johor Bahru to Bintulu, and Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Terengganu this year, he said.

    “Regionally, we have seen similarly encouraging developments for domestic and international services in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. We will continue to review our network which evolves based on a number of factors including demand,” he said.

    He added that new services will be announced in due course as the world continues to gradually reopen.

    “While our domestic services across the group have grown by 156 per cent in recent months due to significant consumer demand, and by 50 per cent for international, we expect to return to 100 percent or more of pre-COVID domestic and international flying by the end of this year,” he said.

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  • Starbucks launches Coffee Experience Center in Bali, Indonesia

    Starbucks launches Coffee Experience Center in Bali, Indonesia

    Today, Starbucks celebrates the journey of coffee from seed-to-cup by opening its largest destination in Southeast Asia – the Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary. The one-of-a-kind Coffee Sanctuary demonstrates Starbucks Indonesia’s coffee leadership in partnership with licensee PT Sari Coffee Indonesia Limited, building upon 16 years of innovation in design, customer experience, and community impact. The store pays tribute to the important role that Indonesia, the fourth largest Arabica coffee growing region in the world, plays in bringing Starbucks customers the highest quality coffees, including the popular single-origin coffee from Sumatra. Sumatra coffee has been a staple offering at Starbucks since 1971.

    “We began sourcing Indonesian coffees more than four decades ago and have always been struck by the sense of community and care for the coffee journey at every step,” said Kevin Johnson, ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company. “The Starbucks Dewata Coffee Sanctuary amplifies our passion for the coffee journey, our ongoing commitment to Indonesia’s rich coffee culture, and our tireless pursuit of fostering moments of connection between our partners and customers. This is Starbucks at its best, and we are proud to open the doors of this unique experience in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets.”

    Designed as a coffee sanctuary, the expansive 20,000 square foot store beautifully highlights local craftsmanship and culture alongside premium coffee in this one-of-a-kind coffee experience, a sort of “origin-centered version” of the Roasteries, igniting all five senses. Visitors enter through an Arabica coffee farm, try their hand at coffee bean de-pulping and washing during harvest season, dry and rake green coffee beans, visit budding seedlings in the nursery, take in the store’s locally-inspired design featuring traditional Balinese craft and Indonesian art, and enjoy the more than 100 Dewata-exclusive handcrafted beverages, food and merchandise, including the Lavender Latte.

    “Bali has an envied reputation as one of Asia’s top travel destinations and Indonesia is one of coffee’s most extraordinary coffee origin regions, so we’re excited to invite customers here to ignite their senses and explore the seed-to-cup coffee journey at this unique Coffee Sanctuary,” said Anthony Cottan, managing director, Starbucks Indonesia, at PT Sari Coffee Indonesia Limited.  “We’re very pleased to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Starbucks and PT Sari Coffee Indonesia with this truly one-of-a-kind Starbucks store, inspired by and filled with the finest examples of Indonesian art, design, and craftsmanship.”

    Located in Bali’s up-and-coming premium retail district on Sunset Road, the Coffee Sanctuary provides a carefully curated series of interactive experiences.

    As customers enter, they’ll be greeted at the concierge reception and then guided through a working, 1,000 square foot coffee tree farm, the size of a typical Indonesian farm. Customers will continue their journey through contemporary Balinese landscaping, passing coffee plants and a de-pulping station before trying their hand at washing, drying and raking green coffee beans. Inside, the expansive Reserve bar offers customers an intimate experience to taste Starbucks Reserve small-lot coffees, while the core bar offers Starbucks signature core beverages.

    Located on the second floor is the seedling nursery, a greenhouse canopied by panes of glass to create an open-air experience. Here, customers can touch the first stages of the seed-to-cup journey, as well as deepen their understanding of the art of tending to coffee plants alongside a local Balinese farmer. In the adjoining tasting room, customers’ tastebuds will come alive as they enjoy coffee as coffee quality professionals do, without a filter – simply coffee and water – to draw out the flavors that set each cup apart.

    For those looking for more, visitors can engage with an interactive video wall and hear how coffee is planted, processed, roasted, shipped, and brewed into a delicious cup of espresso. On the second floor, a dedicated media room features two synchronized video walls, showcasing the work of the Starbucks Farmer Support Center (FSC) in Sumatra and agronomist, Dr. Surip Mawardi’s, work with Indonesian coffee farmers.

    The Sanctuary was designed as an homage to Indonesia’s rich culture and coffee heritage. The store’s expansive interior was inspired by traditional Balinese houses with free-flowing, connected rooms that promote discovery from one space to the next.

    The store’s interior was designed in partnership with local craftspeople and artists with one goal: tell the story of coffee in Indonesia. This is brought to life by a wood carving depicting the country’s six coffee-growing regions’ local culture and architecture. A two-story mural in the courtyard pays tribute to local farmers who carefully nurture and protect the beans each step of their journey to Starbucks.

    On the main floor, Starbucks partners (employees) welcome customers to the 13-meter teak Reserve bar, drawing inspiration from Bali’s terraced rural landscapes, where customers can taste some of Starbucks rarest coffee offerings. Across the store, eyes are drawn to the living wall filled with flora from the region, situated behind the core bar designed to remind customers of Bali’s ocean waves which are replicated on the layered red-brick exterior façade.

    Starbucks is dedicated to working with farmers in Indonesia to ethically and sustainably bring high-quality Indonesian coffee to the world, and today, the company is the largest buyer of Indonesian arabica coffee.

    In 2015, Starbucks opened the Farmer Support Center in Berastagi, North Sumatra where Starbucks agronomists led by Dr. Mawardi, conduct research to develop disease-resistant coffee varietals in an effort to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product through the Sustainable Coffee Challenge. The Sumatra FSC is one of nine globally, including China, which offers open-source agronomy assistance and support for regional coffee farmers to improve the productivity and sustainability of their coffee trees.

    In a combined effort, Starbucks Indonesia has donated more than 330,000 coffee seedlings, along with technical assistance, to smallholder farmers to-date. Through locally driven initiatives to support coffee tree replanting, Starbucks commits to donating 100,000 seedlings annually in partnership with the FSC.

    Since 2006, The Starbucks Foundation has provided more than $4 million dollars to support farming communities and promote education, water, sanitation and health (WASH) programs across Indonesia. In 2018, The Foundation provided grants to Lutheran World Relief to support women-led community health and hygiene programs for 2,100 households in Sumatran coffee-producing villages over the next three years and to CARE to support economic empowerment for women tea workers and community WASH programs in West Java over the next two years.

    Today, Starbucks Indonesia delivers the Starbucks Experience across 370 stores where nearly 4,500 partners proudly wear the green apron. The Dewata Coffee Sanctuary marks the first Starbucks Reserve Bar in Bali and its tenth in Indonesia as Starbucks continues to elevate the coffee journey for customers across the market.

  • Paris Baguette arrives in Indonesia

    Paris Baguette arrives in Indonesia

    Erajaya Food & Nourishment (“EFN”) and Paris Baguette of Singapore (“PB”), officially entered into a joint venture partnership through the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement represented by Ms. Gabrielle Halim from EFN and Mr. Jin-Soo Hur from PB.

    Through this partnership, Paris Baguette, the well-loved fast-casual bakery from South Korea, known for its quality, delicious and innovative array of pastries, breads and cakes, officially enters the Indonesian market. The highly-anticipated debut would make Indonesia the fourth country in South East Asia that Paris Baguette would call home.

    Paris Baguette’s entry into the Indonesian market promises to break through the country’s F&B clutter, by offering elevated culinary concepts and a plethora of delicacies, crafted using premium ingredients, guaranteed to satisfy the most discerning taste.

    Gabrielle Halim, CEO of Erajaya Food & Nourishment, stated, “We are honoured to partner with Paris Baguette to expand its footprint in Indonesia. Their commitment to innovation and quality is in line with our vision to become a leading F&B player in Indonesia. We are certain the food lovers in Indonesia will welcome and enjoy Paris Baguette’s fresh concept and unique offerings when we open our first stores shortly.”

    “We are delighted to partner with Erajaya Food & Nourishment, who shares our vision of making the world a happier place through innovative products and by leading with integrity. Together with our partner, we will bring the high-quality treats that we love from Paris Baguette to Indonesia. Our expansion into Indonesia is a part of our globalization strategy.” said Hana Lee, Vice President of Paris Baguette SEA, SPC Group.

  • Subway plans to start selling into Indonesia

    Subway plans to start selling into Indonesia

    Subway, the world’s largest restaurant brand, has signed an agreement with PT Sari Sandwich Indonesia, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s food & beverage retailer, PT Map Boga Adiperkasa Tbk (MBA), whose parent company is PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk (MAP). This agreement kicks off Subway’s aggressive plans to expand its international footprint. The partnership will launch Subway restaurants in Indonesia by Q4 2021, with initial locations set to open in the Greater Jakarta region.

    “The demand for Subway restaurants is unprecedented in many markets around the world, including Indonesia,” says John Chidsey, Chief Executive Officer of Subway. “MAP, Indonesia’s leading lifestyle retailer, is the ideal partner to kick off our expansion in the Asia Pacific region, where we know convenient, better-for-you options are in demand. This is just the start of our global expansion plans.”

    A major player in the Indonesian F&B market, MBA has over 590 stores across 33 Indonesian cities serving brands like Starbucks, Pizza Marzano, Krispy Kreme and others. According to the agreement, the Subway brand will be managed by PT Sari Sandwich Indonesia and expands MBA’s business portfolio to eight premium international brands. In addition, Indonesia will be the first-ever market to implement Subway’s exclusive country franchise model globally. Based on this model, MBA will solely spearhead Subway’s development in Indonesia with the goal of establishing strong and steady annual restaurant growth.

    “MBA recognizes the importance of food retailing and works with best-in-class brands, making Subway a natural choice,” says V.P. Sharma, Group CEO of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk.

    The partnership expands growth for both companies, allowing Subway fans in Indonesia to get freshly made, craveable food with fast, friendly and convenient service closer to home.

    “Subway offers delicious, better-for-you sandwich choices that cater to the growing trend of Indonesians looking for a more balanced and healthier diet,” said Anthony Cottan, President Director of PT Map Boga Adiperkasa Tbk. “The Subway model of making every sandwich customized, in addition to its convenience and affordability, will attract many guests and position it for growth in Indonesia for many years to come.”

    The expansion into Indonesia marks the first step in Subway’s continuing plans to grow its presence in the Asia Pacific region. The brand’s restaurants and sales throughout the region, in countries such as South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Singapore, have seen significant success in recent years and Subway expects similar results in Indonesia.

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  • Indonesia’s Bukalapak kicks off $1.1 billion IPO

    Indonesia’s Bukalapak kicks off $1.1 billion IPO

    Indonesia’s Bukalapak launched an up to $1.13 billion IPO ahead of next month’s listing, marking the country’s biggest issue in over a decade amid rising investor appetite for tech stocks in a region boasting a growing consumer class, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters.

    The e-commerce company, which counts Singapore sovereign investor GIC and Microsoft among its backers, is set to be valued at $5.6 billion at the top end of a price range, doubling the company’s valuation from two years ago.

    Details of the IPO are currently being announced at an investor briefing.

    Reuters reported on Thursday that Bukalapak, the country’s fourth-biggest e-commerce firm, was targeting raising more than $1 billion in its IPO, 25% more than previously planned.

  • AirAsia Indonesia To Suspend Flights For One Month

    AirAsia Indonesia To Suspend Flights For One Month

    On Saturday, July 3rd, AirAsia Indonesia announced that it would be suspending its operations for at least a month due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country. The airline has called its suspension a form of support for the Indonesian government’s efforts in tackling the virus.

    According to a statement issued by the AirAsia Group subsidiary, all scheduled flights on the airline’s domestic Indonesian and international routes will temporarily stop operating from July 6th to August 6th, 2021.

    “AirAsia remains committed to serving charter and cargo flights to support repatriation missions, delivery of goods and other essential interests by implementing strict health and safety protocols.”

    AirAsia is taking a flexible approach to existing bookings and reservations on canceled flights. For bookings on flights during the suspension period, passengers can convert tickets into a credit account which is valid for up to 730 days (two years). They can also change their flight schedule to another date until 31 October 2021, which can be done an unlimited number of times at no additional cost.

    While new daily case counts had been ‘stabilizing’ around five to six thousand during the month of May, this figure has significantly jumped over the month of July. New daily case counts are now exceeding 20,000 and continue to climb. Indeed, case counts began to climb in late May and early June – weeks after many Indonesians traveled and celebrated in marking the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr.

    A prominent epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Dr. Pandu Riono, describes the situation in the country as “herd stupidity.”

    This label was given due to what Dr. Riono calls mixed messaging and poor decision-making from the government, combined with the general public’s refusal to follow health protocols and reluctance to receive jabs.

    As we’ve seen in many other cases around the world, the suspension of flights could be extended further, depending on the country’s COVID situation. If case counts and hospitalizations continue to rise, we can expect more canceled flights in an effort to contain the situation.

    “AirAsia always puts the safety and security of every passenger and all of its employees first. We will continue to evaluate the development of the situation and are ready to re-open our scheduled flight services at any time if the situation improves.”

    With this in mind, AirAsia customers are advised to periodically monitor the airline’s travel advisory information, available on the AirAsia app, as well as on the airline’s social media channels.

  • Indonesia’s Bukalapak aiming for up to $800 million in IPO

    Indonesia’s Bukalapak aiming for up to $800 million in IPO

    Indonesian e-commerce firm Bukalapak is keen to raise as much as US$800 million in an initial public offering (IPO) in August, two people with knowledge of the matter said, the first of two big tech listings in Jakarta this year that will add long-sought luster to the local bourse.

    A mid-year debut could see it become Indonesia’s biggest listing in 10 years and the largest ever for the country by a startup. But those milestones will likely later be overtaken by the planned listing of GoTo – a new company to be formed by the merger of e-commerce rival Tokopedia and ride-hailing and payments firm Gojek.

    Tapping a sharp pick-up in investor interest in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding technology sector, Bukalapak, the country’s No 4 e-commerce firm, is aiming to sell 10 to 15 percent of the company and wants a valuation of between US$4-5 billion, the people said.

    A confidential listing prospectus has been submitted to the Indonesia stock exchange, one of the sources said.

    Proceeds from the offering could range between US$500 million and US$800 million depending on investor demand and market conditions, said the sources who were not authorized to speak on the matter and declined to be identified.

    Bukalapak, which said in 2019 it was valued at more than US$2.5 billion, declined to comment.

    The 11-year-old startup which claims to have more than 100 million users has a plethora of big-name investors backing it including Microsoft, Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, local media conglomerate Emtek, the investment arm of Standard Chartered, and South Korean web portal Naver Corp.

    Bukalapak was originally aiming to raise US$300 million from its domestic listing before looking to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in the United States, but it is now focusing solely on its IPO, one of the sources said.

    The listing, which sources say is set to take place mid-August, is a victory for Indonesia’s bourse which has been conducting an extensive charm offensive to convince the country’s thriving startups to list locally instead of heading to the US.

    Stagnant for many years, Indonesia’s total IPO deal value took a further hit during the coronavirus pandemic, more than halving in 2020 to US$470 million, Refinitiv data showed. So far this year, 15 companies have raised a combined US$125 million via IPOs.

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  • Bank Jago Partners Mambu and Google Cloud for Digital Bank

    Bank Jago Partners Mambu and Google Cloud for Digital Bank

    The strategic partnership allows the bank to operate in the cloud in Indonesia, where banking data must remain in-country, according to an announcement this week.

    The digital bank will use Mambu’s SaaS banking platform and Google Cloud to offer new services to meet the needs and demands of Indonesian customers.

    Bank Jago launched its smartphone app in April 2021 in Indonesia, home to the fourth-largest unbanked population globally.

    Its service offerings include everyday transactions and payments, and the bank has plans to branch out into SME lending.

    Bank Jago believes that technology is not only providing new experiences to its customers, but it also enables the bank to operate efficiently, and to constantly create innovative breakthroughs, Kharim Siregar, Bank Jago president director, said in the announcement

    Formerly known as Bank Arto, Bank Jago is backed by the likes of super app Gojek, which recently increased its stake in the lender, as well as Singapore state investor GIC.

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  • Indonesia retail sales down 14.6 percent in March

    Indonesia retail sales down 14.6 percent in March

    Retail sales in Indonesia fell at a slower pace of 14.6per cent on annual basis in March, compared with an 18.1per cent fall in February, a central bank survey showed on Tuesday.

    Stronger fuel sales were supportive, although sales of clothes and recreational amenities continued to show drops during the month, the survey showed.

    Bank Indonesia, which had forecast a 17.1per cent drop in sales in March, is predicting a 9.8per cent increase in April.

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  • Ooredoo Group Announces USD750 million Deal for Sale of More Than 4,200 Telecoms Towers in Indonesia

    Ooredoo Group Announces USD750 million Deal for Sale of More Than 4,200 Telecoms Towers in Indonesia

    Ooredoo  today announced that its Indonesian operating company, PT Indosat Tbk. (“Indosat Ooredoo”), has signed a sale and leaseback agreement with PT EPID Menara AssetCo (“Edge Point Indonesia”) for more than 4,200 telecommunications towers.

    PT EPID Menara AssetCo is an Indonesian subsidiary of Edge Point Singapore, which is wholly owned by Digital Colony, a leading global digital infrastructure investor with extensive experience owning and operating cellular towers.

    Indosat Ooredoo has agreed to sell this portfolio of towers in a transaction valued at USD 750 million, including a supplementary offer, making it one of the largest deals of its kind in Asia. The sale will unlock capital to create value for shareholders and continue to build Indosat Ooredoo’s strong growth momentum through improvements to network performance and the launch of innovative new digital solutions to enhance the customer experience.

    The sale is part of Ooredoo Group’s strategy to move to a more efficient and flexible asset light model and unlock the trapped value of its infrastructure portfolio. Prior to this deal, Ooredoo had a global portfolio of approximately 27,000 owned towers, representing an infrastructure portfolio of significant value for the Group. Monetising these assets to create more value for both shareholders and customers is a key focus of Ooredoo’s current strategy.

    Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Managing Director of Ooredoo Group, said: “Congratulations to Indosat Ooredoo on this sale and leaseback agreement with Edge Point Indonesia, which aligns perfectly with our new strategy and its focus on creating more value for shareholders and customers. This strategy incorporates a shift towards an asset-light model that will help us unlock significant capital and enable us to focus on our core mission of delivering outstanding digital and enterprise services to our customer base. I extend our gratitude to the Government of Indonesia for its progressive policies that leave a positive impact on the industry, its operators and its people.”

    Edge Point Indonesia was declared the winning bidder of a competitive tender process conducted by Indosat Ooredoo. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2021 subject to customary conditions, including shareholder approval by Indosat Ooredoo at an EGM, which is planned to be held on May 6th. Indosat Ooredoo will lease back space on the towers for a period of 10-years to meet its ongoing requirements.

    President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo, Ahmad Al Neama, added: “I am delighted that Indosat Ooredoo has agreed this deal, which furthers our strategy to create more value from our infrastructure assets. The deal marks the third and final sale of assets from our high-quality tower portfolio and continues our transition into a leading digital telecoms company. We are confident the leaseback agreement, with its attractive terms, will continue to meet our ongoing tower needs, while the capital that we have unlocked will provide further fuel to power our growth momentum. Indosat Ooredoo and Edge Point Indonesia will work closely together going forward and build a strong and long-lasting strategic partnership.”

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  • Ted Baker appoints new Indonesian distributor

    Ted Baker appoints new Indonesian distributor

    The MENA deal is actually an extension to the current retail agreement Ted Baker has with Al-Futtaim Group but adds in new e-commerce and wholesale rights for the region. The all-new 10-year Indonesia dealx has been signed with PT Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP) for the retail license.

    The fellow-10-year Al-Futtaim agreement now means MENA will be Ted Baker’s first full omnichannel territory operated by a license partner. The complete integrated package across retail, digital and wholesale channels “is a key pillar of the group’s three-year transformation plan… which is designed to deliver a more profitable, more cash generative and higher return on capital employed business”, Ted Baker said.

    Al-Futtaim currently operates 24 Ted Baker stores and concessions across Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. The addition of e-commerce and wholesale rights will aim to further strengthen the customer experience of the brand in the region, they said. Specific benefits to customers will include alignment of pricing and promotions across channels, and an improved e-commerce proposition with shorter delivery times, and ship-from-store and click-and-collect services.

    Meanwhile, under the terms of its retail and selective digital rights agreement, MAP has “committed to an ambitious store and concession opening plan and will sell via selective online platforms in Indonesia”. This expanded distribution will build brand awareness in the Asian region alongside the five other license partners and the group’s China JV, Ted Baker noted.

    Following these new license agreements, Ted Baker will have 17 retail license partners and 20 product license partners across the globe.

    Helen Costello, Group Commercial and Business Development Director at Ted Baker, said: “Having worked with the Al-Futtaim team for many years, we know they have an excellent understanding of Ted Baker and our customers. Al-Futtaim’s experience also means that they are particularly well-placed to fully realize the significant growth potential from the accelerating consumer shift to online channels in the region”.

    She added: “MAP is the leading retail expert in Indonesia, and they have the right team and experience in place to build on the strong foundations that are already in place. It is a testament to the strength of our brand that we continue to partner with the leading experts in their relevant categories across the world”.

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  • Bank Permata CEO to Head Indonesia’s New Wealth Fund

    Bank Permata CEO to Head Indonesia’s New Wealth Fund

    The fund, which currently has around $15 billion in assets, is targeting to grow to $100 billion.

    Ridha Wirakusumah, who has been CEO Indonesia’s Bank Permata since 2017, will become the chief executive officer of the country’s new strategic development sovereign wealth fund, the Indonesia Investment Authority said in an announcement on Tuesday.

    Wirakusamah has held a number of leadership positions in his career, including president and CEO of AIG Consumer Finance Group Asia, Asia Pacific president and CEO at AIG, president CEO for AIG Finance (Hong Kong), head of corporate finance at Banker Trust Indonesia, APAC CEO at General Electric and head of banking at GE Money Asia.

    We want INA to reduce the gap in domestic funding needs and development financing, and provide development financing, especially for national infrastructure,» Indonesia President Joko Widodo said in a briefing on Tuesday.

    The Indonesia Investment Authority’s slate of executives includes Arief Budiman, a former director of oil and gas giant Pertamina, who will serve as deputy CEO. Also joining the fund is Stefanus Ade Hadiwidjaja, previously with private equity firm Creador Capital Group, who will be director of investment.

    Marita Alisjahbana of Citibank Indonesia will be director of risk, while Eddy Porwanto, formerly the chief financial officer of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, joins as director of finance, the announcement said.